James weathers



(No Model.)

J. WEATHERS lSASH ASTBNER.

No. 588,202. Patented Aug'. 17,1897.

,UNITED STATES PATENT Fries,

JAMES VVEATHERS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters la'tent No. 588,262, dated August 17, 1897.

Application filed February l5, 18.97. Serial No. 623,355. (No model.)

as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtaihs to make and use the same.

This inventionrelates to improvements in locks for window-sash.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the sash can be held at any height without` counterbalancing weights and to provide means whereby the sash will be automatically locked as soon as it is released by the operator.

The object also is to provide a simplev and inexpensive device which can be sold cheap, which will be easy to -apply,'and will not get out of order. Y

The object also is t'o provide a locking device which will not wear nor mar the sash and which can be set to regulate the frictional contact of the lock with the sash.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in perspective of a window equipped with my improvement; Fig. 2,.

a detail in vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a detail of the outside of the window, showing the application of my improved lock to the top sash; and Fig. 4 is a detail of Fig. 1, showing the meeting-rails of the sash in cross-section and showing the lower sash locked.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A is the window-frame, B the inside casing, and C the lower and C' the upper sash, all

of which may be of any well-known and usual construction. A

D is the parting-strip, which holds the lower sash in place on one side. A portion of the strip is cut away midway of its length and in the space thus vacated the wedge-clamp E is secured. This wedge-clamp is approximately the same size in crosssection as the strip which it displaces, whereby it will present to clamp is secured to the window-frame vby Y .means of the two screws e', which are inserted through the slot e and thence are screwed into the frame. The screws are small enough in diameter to allow the clamp to slide up and down freely thereon. y

E is a projected portion at right angles to the wedge-clamp and is for the purpose of forming a finger-hold for sliding the clamp up out of contact with the sash. The weight of the wedge-clamp, which `will be made out of metal, preferably of cast-iron, will force itvdown, and consequently over against the window-sash. To increase this action,a spring S will be interposed between the clamp E and the end of the parting-strip above it.v This will preferably be a coiled spring and will be heldfrom displacement `bythe pin T, which enters a longitudinal opening in the partingstrip. The opening will be long enough to allow the pin to push up into the strip when the clampE is raised.

When the sash is raised in opening the window, the friction between the sash and the clamp E will be sufficient to' cause the clamp to move up with the sashgbut this upward movement immediately begins to carry the clamp out andV awaylfrom the sash, which liberates the latter and permits it'to move freely; but the weight of the wedge-clamp, together with the spring above it, presses the clamp constantly down andthe screws in the diagonal slot force the clamp over against the sash, so when the sash is liberated, either vpurposely or accidentally, and starts down by the action of gravity the wedge will be drawndown to clamp and arrest the sash.

The amount of friction between the clamp' and the'sash can be regulated whereby the sash will barely be supported from slipping down by its weight, and so the pressure by the operator, though slight, will suffice to lower the sash. This adjustment is secured by means of the lower section D' of the part- IOO ing-strip, which has the longitudinal slots d, through which the screws d' for fastening the strip tothe frame are projected and which enable the strip D to be moved longitudinally and form a stop for the wedge-clamp E. The downward movement of the wed ge-clamp will be regulated by the position of the section D, and the adjustment of the strip can be such that the wedge-clamp will be arrested when the friction against the sash is just sufficient to keep the latter from falling.

The top sash is not often lowered, and in many cases it will not be thought necessary to provide mea-ns for loweringit; but in case it is desired to equip the upper sash with my improvement the middle parting-strip can be cut away and the wedge-clamp applied in a manner to lock the top sash the same as the lower one; but owing to the limited space bctween the two sashes it will probably be preferable to place the wedge-clamp on the outside by cutting away the outside partingstrip in the manner as described for the inside sash and by placing the wedge-clan'ip in reverse position, or upside down, as shown in Figs. 3 and a.

G, Fig. it, is a hook pivotally secured to the front parting-strip on the side ot the window opposite to the wedge-clamp. Its purpose is to hook over the top of the lowersash and lock it against upward movement. It

can be swung down into the position shown in dotted lines.

G', Fig. 3, is a pivoted finger-bar which can be swung up into position under the wedge-clamp to hold the latter up out of contact with the sash to permit of the untrammeled movement of the latter by hand.

In the equipment of a Window both of the sashes can be provided with wedge-clamps on one or both sides of the said sashes.

The clamps, besides locking the sash at any height, also hold them against rattling by the action of the wind, die.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The combination, with the sash and frame of a Window, of a parting-strip cut away as described and the lower section of the strip being secured whereby it can be longitudinally adjusted, and a wedge-clamp secured in the space where the parting-strip has been cutaway, said wedge-clamp being considerably longer than wide and being approximately the same shape and size in cross-section as the parting-strip and said clamp having a diagonal slot as shown, and screws working through the slot in the clamp and fastening the clamp to the Window-frame, all substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES WEATHERS.

Vit-nesses:

JOSEPH A. MINTURN, FRANK W. WOERNER. 

